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UEL announces sports support at Newham Athletics Network launch

Friday 22 May 2009

Tinchy Stryder

The University of East London (UEL) has teamed up with Newham Essex Beagles Athletics Club, the London Borough of Newham, England Athletics (EA) and other partners to promote athletics, widen access to sport, enhance education and coaching skills and improve health and wellbeing as part of the legacy of the London 2012 Games.

David Cosford, UEL’s newly appointed Director of Sport, joined Newham’s Deputy Mayor Christine Bowden, Beagles Chair Bob Smith and EA National Athletics Council Chair Tony Shiret to sign a memorandum of understanding on 18 May as part of the launch of the Newham Athletics Network. UEL will provide sports science and physiotherapy support, research, coaching and volunteering development.

The Network, which is one of ten pilot schemes across the country and the only one in London, will receive £52,000 a year funding from England Athletics. Other partners include East End Road Runners, Greenwich Leisure Ltd, Leyton Orient Community Sports Partnership, Met Track, Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc), Proactive East London and West Ham Utd Community Sports Trust.

The University of East London is closely involved in sports development, the Olympic Park legacy, and is an official Pre-Games Training Camp for London 2012 as part of the London Borough of Newham Consortium. UEL is committed to working in partnership to ensure a sustainable legacy for sport and health.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Neville Punchard, Dean of UEL’s School of Health and Bioscience, said: “We are delighted to be part of the Newham Athletics Network - this kind of partnership is vital if we want to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the 2012 Games and create a lasting legacy for our communities. At UEL, we are already active engaged in sports development at all levels and are investing in exciting new facilities on campus. With David Cosford on board and this partnership up and running, we are ready to really raise our game in the run-up to 2012.”

Working in partnership with UK Athletics and sponsors McCain, England Athletics is rolling out a series of Athletics Networks across England in 2009 through to 2013. To help improve the quality of coaching and boost performance, funding is given to networks of clubs and organisations working together to develop athletics in their area. “As one of the first ten Athletics Networks in England, Newham has a great opportunity to develop a vibrant network of clubs and highly skilled coaches to ultimately grow the next generation of senior athletics champions”, said Rob Thickpenny, Club and Coach Support Officer for England Athletics.

Rhian Horlock, Athletics Development Officer at Newham, said: "The England Athletics investment is important locally to ensure that we can build upon the huge enthusiasm and excitement that London 2012 will inevitably generate for athletics legacy. The Newham Athletics Network programme has maximum benefits for schools, colleges, clubs and coaches."

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Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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